Crop advice in lawns: control beetle larvae biologically with B-Green

Beetle larvae are most likely to cause damage to your lawn between July and end September. B-Green, based on parasitic nematodes, provides you with an efficient, fast and, above all, 100% biological solution.

The most commonly occurring beetle pest is the larvae of the garden chafer (Phyllopertha horticola). These larvae mainly appear from early July till the end of September. They can usually be found just underneath the turf, where they eat the roots. Parts of your lawn will die and become detach.

Fortunately, there is an effective biological solution against beetle larvae. B-Green, available at Biobest is based on the parasitic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. “After application, these nematodes will look straight away for beetle larvae that are hiding in the root layer”, says Biobest advisor Nick Nagels. “They invade the larvae and multiply inside them. At the same time they release bacteria which live in symbiosis with the nematodes. This combination of these bacteria with the growing nematode population kills the beetle larvae.”

B-Green is a fast and efficient solution that is also applied curatively. The soil should be humid when the product is applied. The soil temperature must remain above 12°C during a period of four weeks. How is B-Green applied? Nick: “The product is supplied in a gel formulation. By mixing this with water, the nematodes float in the liquid solution. This solution then has to be sprayed over the lawn area that has to be treated.”

B-Green is not just effective against the larvae of the garden chafer. The nematodes also control the larvae of the black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus).